New to Ubuntu? Start here...
Hi.
Welcome to Ubuntu and the Forums.
Finding your way around Ubuntu and the documentation for it can be a bit tricky. This thread will hopefully help point you towards reliable sources of information, and also tell you how to get the most out of these forums when a search doesn't reveal the answer.
Reading Material to get you started...
Free Ubuntu Pocket guide by Keir Thomas
Ubuntu website (Canonical)
Official Ubuntu documentation
Community documentation (searchable)
Psychocats Ubuntu guide
ZabiGG's Newbie 101
Comprehensive list of weblinks about Ubuntu
Ubuntu-centric Google Custom Search
Links for Specific Advice (posted below)
How to get and install Ubuntu
Using Ubuntu
Multimedia problems and Installing Codecs
Installing Programs & Applications in Ubuntu
Specific Hardware How-tos
Doesn't work? Ask for help
Books about Ubuntu / Linux
User submitted links
Ubuntu News & Blog sites
If you've written a how-to or used another you found helpful, please tell us about it. :)
No requests for help here though!
In an attempt to keep this thread compact with helpful posts only, I have moved all responses, thank-you posts etc to a derivative thread.
Please post any future comments (or additional help) in the Beginner's Team sticky.
A helpful thread for newbies.
On how to install anything on Ubuntu:
http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/
Medibuntu repository:(Multimedia,Entertainment & Distractions In Ubuntu)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu
Compiz extra plugins:
http://forum.compiz-fusion.org/showthread.php?t=5303
Helpful Uubntu commands:
Privileges
sudo command - run command as root
sudo su - open a root shell
sudo su user - open a shell as user
sudo -k - forget sudo passwords
gksudo command - visual sudo dialog (GNOME)
kdesudo command - visual sudo dialog (KDE)
sudo visudo - edit /etc/sudoers
gksudo nautilus - root file manager (GNOME)
kdesudo konqueror - root file manager (KDE)
passwd - change your password
Display
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart - restart X (GNOME)
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart - restart X (KDE)
(file) /etc/X11/xorg.conf - display configuration
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg - reset X configuration
Ctrl+Alt+Bksp - restart X display if frozen
Ctrl+Alt+FN - switch to tty N
Ctrl+Alt+F7 - switch back to X display
System Services¹
start service - start job service (Upstart)
stop service - stop job service (Upstart)
status service - check if service is running (Upstart)
/etc/init.d/service start - start service (SysV)
/etc/init.d/service stop - stop service (SysV)
/etc/init.d/service status - check service (SysV)
/etc/init.d/service restart - restart service (SysV)
runlevel - get current runlevel
Package Management¹
apt-get update - refresh available updates
apt-get upgrade - upgrade all packages
apt-get install pkg - install pkg
apt-get remove pkg - uninstall pkg
apt-get autoremove - remove obsolete packages
apt-get -f install - try to fix broken packages
dpkg –configure -a - try to fix broken packages
dpkg -i pkg.deb - install file pkg.deb
(file) /etc/apt/sources.list - APT repository list
Network
ifconfig - show network information
iwconfig - show wireless information
sudo iwlist scan - scan for wireless networks
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart - reset network
(file) /etc/network/interfaces - manual configuration
ifup interface - bring interface online
ifdown interface - disable interface
Special Packages
ubuntu-desktop - standard Ubuntu environment
kubuntu-desktop - KDE desktop
xubuntu-desktop - XFCE desktop
ubuntu-minimal - core Ubuntu utilities
ubuntu-standard - standard Ubuntu utilities
ubuntu-restricted-extras - non-free, but useful
kubuntu-restricted-extras - KDE of the above
xubuntu-restricted-extras - XFCE of the above
build-essential - packages used to compile programs
linux-image-generic - latest generic kernel image
linux-headers-generic - latest build headers
Firewall¹
ufw enable - turn on the firewall
ufw disable - turn off the firewall
ufw default allow - allow all connections by default
ufw default deny - drop all connections by default
ufw status - current status and rules
ufw allow port - allow traffic on port
ufw deny port - block port
ufw deny from ip - block ip adress
Application Names
nautilus - file manager (GNOME)
dolphin - file manager (KDE)
konqueror - web browser/filemanager (KDE)
kate - text editor (KDE)
gedit - text editor (GNOME)
System
Recovery - Type the phrase “REISUB” while
holding down Alt and SysRq (PrintScrn) with
about 1 second between each letter. Your system
will reboot.
lsb_release -a - get Ubuntu version
uname -r - get kernel version
uname -a - get all kernel information
If GRUB is corrupted :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351
To know all commands in Terminal, press tab twice in terminal.
To read and write ntfs:
sudo aptitude install ntfs-config
Specific Hardware How-Tos